• Tags

    Book Addiction Tag

    Studious Saturday

     

    I’ve been tagged in the Book Addiction tag by Ash. Thank you so much, Ash, this looks like a really fun one to do! If you don’t follow her blog then I definitely recommend that you check it out!

    QUESTIONS

    1. What is the longest amount of time you can comfortably go without picking up a book?
    2. How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time?
    3. Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more?
    4. How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit?
    5. How much time per day do you actually spend reading?
    6. Where does the task ‘picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list?
    7. How many books do you reckon you own in total (including e-books)?
    8. Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation?
    9. What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading?
    10. Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)?
    11. A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF?
    12. What are 3 of your main book goals for 2019?
    13. Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)?
    14. Describe what books mean to you in five words.

    MY ANSWERS

    1. What is the longest amount of time you can comfortably go without picking up a book? – There have been times when I didn’t read for pleasure for months, mostly when I was at university. However, as a general rule I can go a few days without reading if I am very busy.

    2. How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time? – I normally only carry my kindle with me if I am going out and I generally have around 10 unread books at any time. It gives me the option of choosing a book I am in the mood for when I’m travelling which is always great.

    3. Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more? – If I buy them as an ebook then I am very happy to share with others however I rarely give away any paperbacks. There are exceptions, for example books I didn’t enjoy or those which friends want to borrow.

    4. How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit? – I could easily spend hours! I tend to go alone as it is usually what ends up happening but if I go with people I would only spend a half hour.

    5. How much time per day do you actually spend reading? – It varies, sometimes I don’t read at all and other times I can spend hours reading. On several occasions I have read a book from start to finish in one sitting and I only realise when I finish it that I have been reading for hours.

    6. Where does the task ‘picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list? – I try and prioritise it but it doesn’t always work, quite often life gets in the way. However I usually read on my commute to and from work.

    7. How many books do you reckon you own in total (including e-books)? – I own roughly 200 books, the majority of which are ebooks.

    8. Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation? – It depends who I am with but if I know the person likes reading then very often! If not then I try not to bring it up as I know many people get bored (though how they can get bored I really don’t understand!).

    9. What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading? – I had to check my Goodreads statistics and it appears to be 576 pages – Absolute Power by David Baldacci – and I am quite surprised as his books never seem that long to me!

    10. Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)? – I had to get Origin by Dan Brown as soon as it was published which was difficult because it wasn’t originally available in English here in Spain but I managed to do it eventually!

    11. A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF? – I really struggled with The Martian by Andy Weir but decided to keep reading until the end as everyone around me at the time was insisting that it would get better. I found it to be an average read in the end but I think it wasn’t for me and can see why others really loved it.

    12. What are 3 of your main book goals for 2019? – Read more in Spanish (I am failing at this miserably!), read 55 books, read a wider range of genres

    13. Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)? – I wish but unfortunately not!

    14. Describe what books mean to you in five words. – Possibility to escape and dream

    I won’t tag anyone this time as I realise that I have been doing a lot of tags lately. However, it has been quite an interesting one and looking back at some of my answers it may seem that I am not such a keen reader although I promise I am! If you want to find out more about your reading style then I suggest doing this tag as it’s very insightful!

  • Discussions

    Studious Saturday: Tag Two Truths and a Lie

    studious saturdays

    Thank you, Raya, for tagging me! This definitely looks like a fun one!

    HOW TO PARTICIPATE

    • Create a post with your two bookish truths and one bookish lie – but be sure to keep it a secret so your readers can guess!
    • Reveal the lie in a spoiler at the bottom of your post (you can use this HTML code! Just change the “S” in Summary to a lowercase)
    Reveal the Lie

    Lie Revealed

    TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE

    • There are less than 20 paperback and hardback books on my bookshelf.
    • My favourite classic novel is The Great Gatsby.
    • I still haven’t read all the books in the Harry Potter series.

    I TAG:

    Xandra

    Norrie

    Veeshee

    Ashley

    Christopher

    Melissa

    Mary

    N S Ford

    AND THE LIE IS…

    Reveal the Lie

    My favourite classic is not The Great Gatsby, it’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

     

    Did you guess the lie? To all those tagged, I’m looking forward to reading your answers!

  • Tags

    Studious Saturday: The Out of My Comfort Zone Book Tag

    studious saturdays

    Hi everyone! I hope you are having a beautiful weekend and have been able to fit in some reading. I was recently tagged by Stephen in the Out of my comfort zone book tag which looks super fun. I am generally open to reading new genres and authors but I’m sure that I’ll surprise myself with some of my answers.

    Rule:

    You have to pick ONE GENRE that you frequently read about… and then, you can’t use ANY books from that genre while answering the questions!

    I usually lean towards books in the Mystery/Thriller genre but I am not sure that I would typically choose any books of this genre as my answer to these questions. Therefore I have decided to extend the rule out to include Contemporary Fiction too which will make it even more interesting and difficult!

    1. A Book That Is An Exception When It Comes To Genres Or Elements You Don’t Typically Like


    I don’t usually read Fantasy but I decided to read this as part of the book club that I recently attended and I was astounded by the unique storytelling and even more surprised by how much I enjoyed the book!

    2. A Book You Enjoyed From A Genre You Previously Held Some Stigma Against


    This book was everywhere a few years ago and I still remember all my friends discussing districts, characters and other elements completely unknown to me so I ultimately agreed to borrow it from my flatmate and read it in one sitting.

    3. A Book You Didn’t Know Was Out Of Your Comfort Zone Until You Started Reading It


    I am a huge fan of Dystopian Fiction but I honestly did not expect such a hard-hitting story and I definitely didn’t think that it would affect me as much as it did. Nevertheless, this is still one of the most memorable books I have read and I recommend it to everyone (or at least try it even if you don’t manage to finish it).

    4. Pick A Friend Who Motivates You To Pick Up Books You Might Not Normally Be Interested In – Is There A Book They Convinced You To Give A Try?


    Another one of my flatmates convinced me to read The Martian (and watch it afterwards too). Unfortunately we don’t have the same tastes in books or movies but I did listen to his suggestion and was glad to read something different.

    5. A Book That Is Out of Your Comfort Zone, But You Would Like to Read


    Although I love suspenseful thrillers, I am not a huge fan of blood and gore but I have heard so much praise for Hunter Shea’s Creature that I have decided that it’s going straight to my TBR list.

    6. A Book/Genre So Outside Of Your Comfort Zone That You’ll Probably Never Give It A Chance

    Although I am open to many genres I don’t expect to read any Christian Fiction any time soon.

    So those are my diverse and somewhat random answers to this tag. It’s been fun looking back at some of my odd choices and although I won’t tag anyone this time around, I hope those of you that decide to do the tag enjoy it!

     

  • Tags

    Studious Saturday: Blogger Recognition Award

    studious saturdays

    Many thanks to Molly and Kaleena for nominating me with this award! If you have the chance then I encourage you to stop by their blogs as they are both a wonderful celebration of books and reading.

    blogger-recognition-award1

    THE RULES

    1. Thank the blogger who nominated you
    2. Write a post to show your award
    3. Give a brief story of how your blog started
    4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers
    5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to
    6. Comment on each blog and let them know you’ve nominated them, and provide a link to the post you’ve created

    HOW FACING THE STORY STARTED

    I have loved reading ever since I was little and wanted to share my thoughts with others, exchange thoughts and opinions and discover new books to read through recommendations. However, I didn’t know much about the technical side of blogging such as choosing a hosted program and using HTML. Luckily my boyfriend helped out a lot with the technicalities (and even thought of the name!) and encouraged me to just start writing and see where it takes me. I wanted my blog to be a platform for my personal views on books I have read and would recommend to others as well as a create outlet for other musings, which is also how Studious Saturdays first began. In addition, I was also hoping to use writing and blogging as extra experience and an introduction to the Publishing industry in Spain as I was originally struggling to look for inspiration. My confidence and desire to write have grown tremendously since starting this blog back in June and I still hope to use it to pursue other opportunities in the creative industries.

    MY ADVICE TO NEW BLOGGERS

    1. Reach out to others in the blogging community. This is the best way to make friendships, ask for advice when needed and get inspiration. Getting started is the hardest but the community is open and friendly and there are many others who would be willing to help you set up. You will find your own voice as you start to write and you can decide to design your blog based on your personal preferences to make it a platform you are proud of and look forward to checking at the end of your day.
    2. Don’t be afraid to take a break when needed. Blogging is hard work and it is especially difficult when life gets in the way and we get busy or stressed. It’s sometimes better to step away and take a much needed break instead of writing when you have no inspiration or no time. Scheduling helps a lot here, and if you’re someone like me, knowing that your post is ready to go live at an especially hectic time of your life is usually a huge relief. However, if you prefer to write when you feel like it, know that your blog and your followers will be here for you when you come back from your break and that your mental health is always more important.

    NOMINATIONS

    These are some of the brilliant bloggers whose posts I have loved recently and I would like to give this award to:

    Krisha

    Meggy

    Amy

    Nicole

    Shruti

    Jennifer

    Katie and Dee

    Kristina

    India

    N S Ford

    Inge

    Stephen

    Sophia

    Grace

    Sarah

    Thank you again to Kaleena and Molly for the award and thanks to everyone who has read this post. I look forward to reading how others got started and their advice to new bloggers. If you have already published a post of this award before please leave me a link, I would love to read it!

     

  • Tags

    Studious Saturday: It’s Finally Fall Book Tag

    studious saturdays

    Autumn is here once again (although with a slight delay as always here in sunny Madrid) and so is the perfect weather to snuggle up under a blanket with a book. Amanda tagged me in the It’s Finally Fall Book Tag. Thank you, Amanda! For those of you who haven’t come across her blog before, she recently shared some very insightful tips for bloggers and writes great reviews so go and check out her blog! I am not sure who created this book tag but please comment if you know so I can link back to them.

    I am excited to share with you some of my favourites perfect for rainy weather. Enjoy reading!

    IN FALL, THE AIR IS CRISP AND CLEAR | NAME A BOOK WITH A VIVID SETTING!
    Book Cover
    I just loved the imagery and vivid descriptions in The Night Circus so much. I haven’t read a book that surpasses the setting since this one.

    NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL BUT ALSO DYING | NAME A BOOK THAT IS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, BUT ALSO DEALS WITH A HEAVY TOPIC LIKE LOSS OR GRIEF.
    Book Cover
    I recently received The Coordinates of Loss as an ARC and was blown away by how well  the author handled the complex topic of grief.


    FALL IS BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON | SHARE A NON-FICTION BOOK THAT TAUGHT YOU SOMETHING NEW.

    Book Cover
    Quiet explores how introverts fit in our society and is a thought-provoking and extremely interesting book.


    IN ORDER TO KEEP WARM, IT’S GOOD TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE PEOPLE WE LOVE | NAME A FICTIONAL FAMILY/HOUSEHOLD/FRIEND-GROUP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO BE A PART OF.

    Book Cover
    I have so much admiration for Durell and I would love to be a part of his animal family. I can imagine it being so much fun!


    FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR SOME STORYTELLING BY THE FIRESIDE | SHARE A BOOK WHEREIN SOMEBODY IS TELLING A STORY.

    Book Cover
    My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologies is a charming story told from the perspective of 7-year-old Elsa. It is unique and the storytelling is just wonderful.


    THE NIGHTS ARE GETTING DARKER | SHARE A DARK, CREEPY READ.

    Book Cover
    This book was really not what I was expecting after reading the description. It is dark and twisted and hard to take in all at once.


    THE DAYS ARE GETTING COLDER | NAME A SHORT, HEARTWARMING READ THAT COULD WARM UP SOMEBODY’S COLD AND RAINY DAY.

    Book Cover
    Not especially short but highly entertaining and the perfect heartwarming read!


    FALL RETURNS EVERY YEAR | NAME AN OLD FAVOURITE THAT YOU’D LIKE TO RETURN TO SOON.

    Book Cover
    Perhaps my favourite book ever written, And the Mountains Echoed is one that I would definitely like to re-read soon.


    FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR COZY READING NIGHTS | SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE COZY READING ACCESSORIES!

    A warm drink and a thick blanket! I don’t really need much more than that!

    I tag:

    N S Ford
    Katie and Dee at The Brunching Bookworms
    Darinda at Nightcap Books
    Lily at Sprinkle of Dreams
    Jess at Comfort Reads

    To those tagged there is no pressure to do the tag but I would love to read your answers so if you decide to post them, please link back to me so I can see your fall favourites. And to anyone not tagged please also feel free to do the tag, it was a lot of fun! Have a great weekend and happy reading!